Sswm's Fluval Evo 13.5

[sswm]

Recently picked up this tank. I have always had freshwater tanks and now I've decided take the jump into saltwater. I'm going to stick with the standard equipment that comes with the tank for now and I will add a power head shortly(not sure which one yet, most likely a hydor koralia). Last weekend I added sand and live rock to the tank. There was big bi-valve on a rock that I'm pretty sure died and caused my water stats to go crazy. One morning during the week, it seems almost every hitch hiker that came with the rock died off, found lots of dead copepods and a few big bristleworms and I haven't seen much action from anything during my nightly checks since then. I removed as much as I could a did a water change and the cycle seems to have settled down now. I have some brown diatom algae growing over some rock and the sand right now. Here is the rockscape:



Unfortunately, one of the rocks I got had some colonial brown hydroids on them. I removed what I could and glued over those areas so now it will just be a monitoring game, hopefully they wont come back.

I've made a DIY media basket for the second chamber that has filter floss, seachem matrix and chemi-pure blue. I'm debating what to do with the first chamber, whether to get a skimmer or make another basket for it, currently the heater is sitting in it with some filter floss for the time being.



I plan on stocking two clownfish and a firefish. That may change between now and when that time comes, with a CUC of hermit crabs and snails. I'm going to stick some beginner corals for now since I'm sticking with the stock equipment, not sure what they will be yet. I will post more pictures as I stock the tank!

 

[TheLadyCrash]

Looking great so far! Excited to see your build progress!

 

[Xavierwally]

Hi, My first tank was a EVO 13.5. I would put the media basket in the first chamber, and the heater in the third chamber if it fits. If not place the heater in chamber 2. FYI ( INTANK makes a great media basket for the EVO)

 

[stereef]

Hi, My first tank was a EVO 13.5. I would put the media basket in the first chamber, and the heater in the third chamber if it fits. If not place the heater in chamber 2. FYI ( INTANK makes a great media basket for the EVO)

i will be buying the INTANK meadia basket for chamber one has anyone bought one andmoved protein skimmer to chamber 2

by the way tank look's good keep it up

 

[Lulu_Lunette]

Oooo I'm excited you are keeping things stock for right now too :) I am thinking of getting the INTANK media basket to replace the foam block. Just curious - what was your reasoning for switching it out right away?

 

[Katydives]

hey we have the same tank!

 

[sswm]

Hi, My first tank was a EVO 13.5. I would put the media basket in the first chamber, and the heater in the third chamber if it fits. If not place the heater in chamber 2. FYI ( INTANK makes a great media basket for the EVO)

Yeah, I will move the heater to the third chamber and make another media rack for the first chamber. I looked at the INTANK baskets, but unfortunately I live in Canada, so with exchange(Canadian dollar sucks), shipping and potential duties, its a much cheaper option to make these eggcrate racks lol

 

[sswm]

Oooo I'm excited you are keeping things stock for right now too :) I am thinking of getting the INTANK media basket to replace the foam block. Just curious - what was your reasoning for switching it out right away?

I really just didn't like the big foam block with the small spaces for the other media. I think that there is better flow over each media with a basket then through the big foam block as well.

I creeped your tank thread as well, its looking great!

 

[sswm]

hey we have the same tank!

Nice, I'm really happy with it so far. How are you liking yours?

 

[Katydives]

Nice, I'm really happy with it so far. How are you liking yours?

loving it so far, cycling right now!

 

[sswm]

I have a problem with the light fixture that I did not notice when assembling the tank. One of the LED nodes(?) has had its protective silicone stripped off, it's the only visible damage to the fixture and I can't think of anything that I would have done to have caused this damage. I assume some evaporation has already made its way into the fixture. I've emailed Hagen's customer support so I will wait to see what they have to say.

The damage is on the bottom middle.

 

[sswm]

Fluval's customer support has actually been really good. They were quick in resonding to the issue and will be sending a replacement light soon.

I've noticed that a new fish store had opened up close to the store I usually go to, so I decided to stop by it and I found exactly what I was going to order online, for cheaper and without any shipping fees. Here is my new toy:


Full tank shot:


I've made some additons to the tank, I now have three spiny star astraea's, 2 reg legged hermits and this guy


He's found himself some holes in a rock that he swims right through

 

[NanoDad]

This looks great!